Welcome to Lynchville

According to the lore behind Inland Empire, director David Lynch turned to his producer one morning during shooting and demanded a one-legged woman, a monkey, and a lumberjack by 3:15 p.m. All three made it into the film, but as to what else Inland Empire is about is anybody's guess...

By P. Scott Cunningham

June 21, 2007

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According to the lore behind Inland Empire, director David Lynch turned to his producer one morning during shooting and demanded a one-legged woman, a monkey, and a lumberjack by 3:15 p.m. All three made it into the film, but as to what else Inland Empire is about is anybody's guess. Lynch’s own synopsis reads like a bad fortune cookie: "A woman in trouble."

The woman in this case is actress Nikki Grace (Laura Dern), and the trouble seems to be that the role she’s been cast in is cursed. But according to Richard Pena of the New York Film Festival, the movie is about “a family of people with rabbit heads sitting around in a living room.” Hmmm. The one consistent comment by reviewers has been that Dern is fantastic, and true fans of Lynch (Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive) will relish the chance to write their own interpretations. Dana Keith, of the presenting Miami Beach Film Society and Cinematheque, says, “Required viewing is at least twice.” Don't sleep on this showing: It's literally the last 35mm presentation of the film in the States, and Lynch himself will be making a live introduction via Webcast. The mystery begins tonight at 7:00 at the Colony Theater.
Sun., June 24, 7 p.m.

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